Circuit control and current control system



y 1939- A. B. RYPINSKI 2,164,349

CIRCUIT CONTROL AND CURRENT CONTROL SYSTII Filed Nov; 24, 1933 IN VENTOR.

6. M ATTORNEY Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE cmonrrcommon AND mm common I srs'rm 90laims.

This application is a continuation'in part of application No. 416,877,for Slow magnetic: regulating device, filed December 27,1929, now PatentNo. 2,082,121, dated June 1, 1937.

My invention relates to electromagnetic de-- vices of the class setforth in my Patent 2,082,121,

dated June 1, 1937, as applied to circuit making and breaking systems,flashers, sign flashers, systems for switching and dimming lamps andcircuit control systems.

This application is one of a series of related copending applications asfollows:

Serial Number 699,619, filed November 24, 1933, for Distribution system.Patent No. 2,082,122, dated June 1,1937.

Serial Number 671,767, filed May 18, 1933, for Slow electromagneticdevices having the same or similar temperature coefficients ofresistance materials in differential windings. Patent No.

2,093,369, dated September 14, 1937.

Serial Number 703,313, filed December 20, 1933, for High temperatureslow electromagnetic device. Patent No. 2,068,712, datted January 26,1937.

Serial Number 705,466, filed January 5, 1934,

for Slow electromagnetic devices having the same or differenttemperature coefilcient of resistance materials in assisting windings.

One of the objects of my invention is to produce a direct current signflasher device wherein the periodical opening and closing of the circuitis controlled by a slow electromagnet, the duration of the residualmagnetism timing the cooling of the windings and the heating of thewindings 5 timing the opening of the circuit.

Another object of my invention is to produce a sign flasher devicewherein the periodical opening and closing of the circuit is controlledby a rlow electromagnet whose cooling time is sub- 40 stantially fasterthan its heating time.

A still further object of my invention is to construct a lamp dimmingdevice wherein a slow electromagnet in series with the lamps is shuntedby a contactor closed by the electromagnet when 45 heated and openedwhen the electromagnet cools, providing alternate dimming andbrightening of the lamps.

Another object of my invention is to constru a control system foraltering the current sup- 50 plied to a load over a time cycle whereinan electromagnet whose impedance changes with temperature is alternatelyconnected in series with the load and shunted by a contactor controlledby the armature of the electromagnet, producing 5 one change in thecurrent in the circuit when the contactor opens, and a subsequentgradual change as the impedance of the electromagnet changes withheating.

A further object of my invention is to construct a slow electromagnetfor operation in series 5 with a supply source and a load, saidelectromagnet performing the double function of moving a core or keeperto open or close contacts for the entire circuits or parts thereof andaltering the resistance, impedance or power factor of the circuit inwhich it is connected, both eflects occurring over a predetermined timeperiod.

A still further object of my invention is to construct a slowelectromagnet for operation in series with a direct current supplysource and a load, the electromagnet functioning to do any of themechanical operations disclosed herein and to alter the resistance ofthe circuit in which it is connected over a time period, the two eifectsoccurring in time sequence witheach other. 20

- Other and further objects of my invention reside in the circuits andstructures of my invention as more fully described in the followingspecification by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: 25

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the circuit control and current controlsystem employing the electromagnetic device of my invention; Fig.

2 shows a modification of the system shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3shows'another modification of the 30 circuit of Fig. 1; Fig. 4illustrates astill further modified form of the circuit of my invention;Fig. 5 shows the circuit connections of a. device of my invention withseries resistors in the paralleled paths; and Fig. 6 shows a furthermodification of the system illustrated in Fig. 1.

The general explanation of the operation of slow electromagnets,reactors and transformers is fully covered in Patent 2,082,121, datedJune 1, 1937, based on application Serial No. 416,877, filed 40 December27, 1929, of which this application is a continuation in part.

The windings of the slow electromagnetic devices employed hereincomprise'a pair of inductively coupled windings, connected in parallel,and formed of, or having in series with one or both of the windingselements formed of materials having diiferent temperature coefiicientsof resistance. A pair of paralleled, inductively coupled windingsconnected in serieswith a supply source and a load will tend toneutralize or assist each other magnetically. If the supply is directcurrent, the division of current in the paralleled paths will beinversely proportional to the resistances thereof. With alternatingcurrent supplied, the currents will split in the paralleled paths in theinverse ratio of the turns of the two inductively coupled windingsbiased, however, by the resistances of the paths. ances may be ofpositive, negative or zerotemperature coefiicient of resistancematerial.

If the resistances are very low the currents will be almost inthe-inverse turn ratio, held so by the transformer action between theinductively coupled windings. The magnetism will be low since only aslight flux is required to maintain the current split in inverse turnratio with low resistances in the two paths.

If now, by the use of high positive temperature coemcient of resistancematerial, the resistance of one path is caused to increase out ofproportion to the increases, if any, in the other path, the current inthe first path will drop and that in the second path will rise. But thisupsets the inverse turn ratio between these currents, and, as willbeunderstood by those skilled in the art,

the transformer action between windings resists the tendency'of thesecurrents to leave the inverse turn ratio. The difference inmagnetomotive force between the windings increases, the net magnetismproduced increases, and the impedance of the device as a wholeincreases.

The effects just outlined increase in intensity as the resistance of onepath rises more in proportion than the other until at the extremecondition, one winding has infinite-resistance, that is, isopen-circuited, and the second winding produces a maximum of magnetismand impedance. I

The resistance which changes with temperature and alters the currentsplit in the windings may be in one or both of the windings, or it maybe embodied in one or more series resistors in the paralleled paths.

The change in magnetism and impedance of an alternating currentelectromagnetic device as just described is greatly assisted if arelatively small change in magnetism resulting from a disproportionateresistance change in the paralleled paths is caused to move a core intoor out of magnetic coactlon with the windings. It requires only arelatively slight change in magnetism to move a properly movable core,but the movement of the core alters the .magnetism very largely. Thus, arelatively small change in impedance and magnetism may be utilized toinitiate a much larger change.

In my Patent 2,082,121, dated June 1, 1937, and the various patents andapplications related thereto, as listed herein, these effects, areutilized in many ways and with various structures. This application isparticularly directed to structure and use wherein the magnetism andimpedance changes are utilized to move cores and do' me-- chanical work,at the same time introducing the electrical efiects of variable circuitresistance, impedance, and power factor, and inaddition, the mechanicalmovement of the core is utilized to switch the main line current or somepart thereof. All of these'efiects occur in predetermined time sequence.

It is not essential that the switching be automatically performed.Equally novel results can be attained with manual switching performed inthe proper sequence to the automatic operation of the electromagneticdevice.

In Patent No. 2,032,121, of which this is a continuation in part, manytypes of resistor elements are included, among which is a tungsten and acarbon lamp in Fig. 4 of that patent. InPatent These resist-' input andthe energy radiation respectively. In

coils as shown in this application and the related cases, the energyinput is under the control of the coil designer. The radiation is afunction of the filament temperature, varying as the fourth power of theabsolute temperature. This means that at 2000 C. the radiation rate ismany hundreds of times the radiation rate at 20 C., and radiation isexceedingly rapid from 2000" to 1000 C. and less. It is thereforepossible for a designer to produce a coil of the design to be explainedin detail herein in which the cooling rate of the resistor is fasterthan its heating rate.

Again, there are factors which tend to slow down the mechanical actionof the moving parts of the coils described herein as these parts arereleased for return to open position. Residual magnetism is alwayspresent after current is cut off where the supply is direct current, andalmost always present where the supply is alternating current; one of myparalleled windings'tends to discharge its current ,of self-inductionthrough the other when line current goes off, prolonging the magnetism;the inertia of the moving parts prevents instantaneous movement; andfinally, the force of gravity will not result in instantaneous movementof a core to open position.

In view of the fact that cooling of thefilament resistor may be almostinstantaneous at the higher temperatures, whereas movement of the coreto open position is not instantaneous, it will be seen that a coil ofapplicant's design may have one time element in producing magnetism andlifting an armature or core, and a shorter time element in coolingpreparatory to recycling.

While the cores in the various drawings herein are shown as armatures,it is to be understood that they are merely schematic. I may employ anywell known arrangement of armature or core. Those most effective inchanging magnetism are the ones which move completely in or out of thewindings such as those shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Patent No.2,082,121.

The detail of operation of the systems disclosed herein will beunderstood by reference to the diagrams.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a circuit control system employing theelectromagnetic device of my invention. A supply line I feeds lamps 2ithrough a combined slow electroinagnet and reactor 22. The keeper 23actuates a contact 24 which cuts off the current to the lamps and coilwhen opened. When the coil is cold or partly heated, keeper 23 is notattracted. After the current has been flowing long enough the pull ofthe coil increases, lifts 23 against the'action of spring 26 and breakscontact at 24. The lamps go out and coil 22 cools. If the rate ofcooling of the coil is very rapid as compared with its heating rate, themomentary cooling may equal an appreciable time of heating. Otherwise,particularly on direct current, the residual magnetism in keeper 23 maybe utilized to hold it up against the action of spring 26 for a timeafter the current is off, giving the windings a longer time to cool.

The armature 23 andcontacts 24 may be taken as representative of thetripping arrangement and contacts of any. well known circuit breakermechanism including those in which the contacts remain open untilreclosed manually or by other means.

Fig. 2 illustrates a modification of the control system of Fig. 1 fordimming lamps automatically and periodically, utilizing the varyingresistance or impedance of the windings to alter the current as well asthe movement of the keeper to open andclose contacts for the samepurpose. The lamps to be dimmed shown at 2| are'connected in series withthe paralleled windings shown at 22 across line A keeper or armature 23when lifted closes the contacts at 24 by means of arm 25 shunting alarge percentage of the current out of windings 22.. When current isinitially applied at the lamps are lighted with full voltage except forthe drop through 22 which is relatively low due to the windings beingunheated. As the current continues to flow the windings heat and thecurrent split in the two windings begins to change due to thedisproportionate change in resistance of the windings.

Assume first that the supply I is direct current. The changingresistance of windings 22 will alter the current flow to the lamps,dimming their brilliancy. Meanwhile the magnetism set up by .the coil asa whole is increasin until a point is reached at which the armature 23is lifted. With alternating current supplied at the effect will be thesame except that the voltage supplied to the lamps 2| will alter toa'greater extent since the impedancevoltage drop through 22 will begreater than the resistance voltage drop in the direct current circuit.'In either case, after the armature lifts, the windings are shunted,increasing the voltage across the lamps 2| and decreasing the current incoil 22, which now cools and loses magnetism- When the magnetism hasfallen sufficiently the armature 23 drops, opening contacts 24 andsending the main current through windings 22 again. Thewindings howeverhave cooled partially or completely and there is in sufficient magnetismto lift armature 23 until they heat again. A period of time elapses,therefore, during which the brilliancy of the lamps is altered again asbefore, and the entire cycle repeats.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 2 except that link 25 is omitted and theswitch 21 is manually operated.

, In Fig. 6 ifthe contacts are normally closed,

when opened the windings 22 function to choke the current to a lowvalue-at which the circuit may be disconnected at switch with a minimumof arcing. Whether the connection is present, in Fig. 2, or 'notpresent, as in Fig. 6, the armature contributes to the change inimpedance'of the windings by varying the permeability of the flux path,and therefore the inductance, as it moves to decrease or increase theair gap in the magnetic circuit. This latter eifect is inherent in anymovable core electromagnet.

Referring again to Fig. 1, ii' the windings 22 are made to alterconsiderably in resistance or impedance when heated, it is plain thatthe voltage supplied .to the lamps will be altered in proportion andtheir brilliancy affected. In that arrangement Fig. 1 will be a devicewhich is both a sign flasher and lamp dimmer.

It will be understood that the lamps 2| in Figs. 1 and 2 may be replacedby any proper electrical load and the slow electromagnetic devices willfunction as just described to control the current flow to the load.

Fig. 5 is substantially the same as Fig. 5 in my Patent 2,082,121 andshows resistors 21 and 28 limitations are in in series with windings 29and 30 within the parallel connection. It is to be understood that whilethe various Figures 1 to 4 inclusive show the variable resistors asbuilt into the windings themselves, series resistors may be employed,connected as indicated in Fig. 5 for each of the combinations shown inthese Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

Any slow electromagnetic device of the types described in my copendingapplication Serial No. 416,877, filed December 27, 1929, now Patent2,082,121, dated June 1, 1937, for Slow magnetic regulating device, ifplaced in series with a load as described herein for circuit makers andbreakers, sign flashers, lamp dimmers, and circuit control devices, willperform the double function of actuating an armature or keeper andvarying the resistance, impedance or power factor of the circuit inwhich it is connected. Both of these efiects are variable, that is, theyincrease or decrease in intensity over a time period. Many modificationsof the two function device are possible within the scope of thisdisclosure; In addi-' tion to the uses described, the armature movementmay be utilized to do mechanical work, to open or close auxiliarycircuits; the varying resistance or impedance of the series windings maybe utilized to perform any of the functions claimed for reactors ortransformers in my copending application Serial No. 416,877, filedDecember 27, 1929, now Patent 2,082,121, dated June 1, 1937.Electromagnets for connection in series with a load and which operate todo mechanical work or to control circuits are in common use. Myelectromagnetmay be designed to have a low resistance and substantiallyzero inductive reactance over a range of current values, but when theseare exceeded, after a time period for the windings to heat, theresistance and inductive reactance may increase to a relatively largeextent, altering the current to the load and attracting the armature.The design may be such as to make the inductive reactance and magneticpull large when the windings are unheated, if so desired, and both canbe made to decrease as heating proceeds.

The electromagnet of my invention finds numerous other applications,among which are relays to open and close circuits only after apredetermined time has elapsed after the current is increased in thecircuit; electric circuit makers and breakers, and trafllc lights.In-any of the slow electromagnetic .devices illustrated herein the opencircuiting or disconnecting of one of the two opposed windings at anypoint in their operation will convert the device to an instantaneoustype electromagnet, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. I have shown in Figs. 3and 4 the switch 40 disposed in circuit with one of the opposed windings22 for open circuiting or disconnecting one of the windings at any timein the course of the operation of the device for converting the deviceto an instantaneous type of electromagnet. Or I may convert aninstantaneous type coil to a slow type by connecting a second winding inparallel with the first and coupled in opposition thereto. This may beaccomplished by manual or automatic switching means.

While I have described my invention in certain I preferred embodiments,I desire it to be understood that modiflcations may be made and notended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is as follows:

1. In a control system, an electromagnetic device comprising a pair ofwindings magnetically coupled in opposition and connected in parallelone with respect to the other, a movable core controllable by theresultant magnetism of said windings, a contactor having a normalposition but actuated by said movable core to a second position, a powersource and a load in series with said contactor in normal position andsaid wind-.

ings, the impedance of said windings varying disproportionately andsubstantially with temperature for varying the resultant magnetismthereof, said change in impedance of said windings constituting meansfor altering the current sup:

plied to said load, said changes in magnetism com I magnetic relation tosaid core and controlling said contactor, said changes in magnetismconstituting means for controlling the movement of said armature andoperating said contactor for moving said contactor from normal positionto the second position as well as substantially altering the impedanceof said windings and the total impedance of said system.

3. In a control system, an alternating current supply, a loadandan,electromagnetic device connected in series, said device comprisingtwo parallel connected magnetically coupled windings formed of materialshaving different temperature coefficients of resistance, a shunt circuitacross said windings including a contactor, said contactor opening saidcircuit in one position and closing it in another position, ,a movablearmature in magnetic relation to said electromagnetic device andaltering the position of said contactor, said difierent coeflicientmaterials constituting means for producing substantial changes inmagnetism for controlling the movement of said armature and operatingsaid contactor as well as substantially altering the impedance of saidwindings and the total impedance of said system.

4. In a control system, a power supply, a load switching means and anelectromagnetic, device connected in series, said electromagnetic devicecomprising two parallel connected inductively coupled windings formed ofmaterials having different temperature coefficients of resistance, woundon a core of magnetic material, said core having a movable portion, thedifferent coeflicient materials constituting means to vary the currentsplit in said windings with temperature changes therein, to alter themagnetism of said device, to move said movable core portion and furtheralter the magnetism displaced and magnetically controlled wholly by theother of said parallel connected windings, said of said device, saidchanges in' magnetism constituting means to alter the imcontactorconstituting additional means to alter the current in said chokingdevice and said load circuit in alternate time sequence to saidimpedance change in said windings.

5. A control system as in claim 4 except that the movement of saidmovable core portion controls the opening and closing of said secondswitch, said windings constituted to decrease in resistance to asubstantial extent after said second switch has closed said parallelcircuit and before said movable core has operated to open said secondswitch.

6. A control system including a supply source and a load includinglamps, an electromagnetic choking device in series with said load, atleast one contactor connected to control current flow in said system,said device comprising a pair of inductively coupled windings connectedin parallel one with respect to the other, and constituted by materialshaving different temperature coefiicients of resistance, a core ofmagnetic material having a movable portion in magnetic relation to saidwindings; means tending to normally move said core to a position removedfrom said windings but within the magnetic influence thereof,

the movement of said core controlling said can'- tactor, the chokingaction of said windings over a time period constituting means to alterthe current flowing to said load, said core controlled contactorconstituting means to control at least a portion of the current flow insaid circuit when the magnetism produced by said windings reaches apredetermined value.

'1. A control system including a supply source and a load includinglamps, an electromagnetic choking device in series with said load, atleast one contactor connected to control'current flow in said system,said device comprising a'pair of inductively coupled windings connectedin parallel one with respect to the other, and constituted by materialsin said parallel paths having difierent temperature coefiicients ofresistance,,a

core of magnetic material having a movable portion in magnetic relationto said windings, said movable portion being displaceable to either animmediate position or a remote position with respect to said windings,means normally tending to displace said movable portion remote withrespect to said windings, the choking action of said windings over atime period constituting means to alter the current flowing to saidload, said core controlled contactor constituting means to control atleast a portion of the currentflow in saidcircuit when themagnetism'produced by said windings reaches a predetermined value.

8. A circuit control system including a supply source, a switchingdevice, a load, and an electromagnetic choking device in series, asecond switching device shunting said choking device, said chokingdevice comprising a pair of inductively coupled windings connected inparallel one with respect to the other and constituted by materialshaving different temperature coeflicients of resistance, said materialsconstituting means to substantially alter the magnetism and impedance ofsaid device over a time period, said shunting switch constitutingadditional means to alter the current in said choking device and saidload circuit ln alternatetime sequence to said impedance change in saidwindings.

9. A control system including a supply source and a load, anelectromagnetic choking and switching device in series with said load,at least one switching means connected to control current flow in saidelectromagnetic device, said device comprising a pair of inductivelycoupled windings connected in parallel one with respect to the other,and constituted by materials having difierent temperature coeflicientsof resistance, ascore of magnetic material having a movable portion inmagnetic relation to said windings, the variable choking action of saidwindings over a time period constituting means to alter the currentflowing to said load, said switching means constituting additional meansto control at least a portion of the current flow in said circuit, saidefiects occurring in alternate time sequence.

ALBERT B. RYPINSKI.

